Parameters:

IN: Location identifier; may be a file, group, dataset, or named datatype

const char *obj_name

IN: Name of object to which attribute is attached, relative to loc_id

const char *attr_name

IN: Name of attribute to open

hid_taapl_id

IN: Attribute access property list (Currently unused; should be passed in as H5P_DEFAULT.)

hid_tlapl_id

IN: Link access property list

Description:

H5A_OPEN_BY_NAME opens an existing attribute, attr_name, that is attached to an object specified by location and name, loc_id and obj_name, respectively.

loc_id specifies a location from which the target object can be located and obj_name is an object name relative to loc_id. If loc_id fully specifies the object to which the attribute is attached, obj_name should be '.' (a dot).

The attribute access property list, aapl_id, is currently unused and should currently be H5P_DEFAULT.

The link access property list, lapl_id, may provide information regarding the properties of links required to access the object, obj_name. See “Link Access Properties” in the H5P APIs.

This function, H5A_OPEN, or H5A_OPEN_BY_IDX must be called before an attribute can be accessed for any further purpose, including reading, writing, or any modification.

The attribute identifier returned by this function must be released with H5A_CLOSE or resource leaks will develop.